Sen. Nicole Mitchell, a top Democratic Minnesota senator, is on trial for her role in a shocking burglary case that unfolded in April 2024 — and you won’t believe what she said while handcuffed.
During Mitchell’s trial this week, police bodycam footage of her arrest was played in the courtroom, and unveiled a jaw-dropping admission from Mitchell that was made public for the very first time.
Mitchell was arrested on suspicion of breaking into her stepmother’s home on April 22, 2024. She has pleaded not guilty to felony first-degree burglary and possession of burglary or theft tools for the alleged break-in.
Mitchell, a member of the state Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party who was elected in 2022, said she went to the Detroit Lakes home belonging to her stepmother, Carol Mitchell, who she said has Alzheimer’s, to retrieve some of her late father’s items.
On Wednesday, prosecutors rested their case against Mitchell after showing police bodycam footage of officers responding to the home.
Here’s a transcript of the arrest played in court —
“She’s my stepdaughter,” Carol Mitchell tells a responding officer. “She’s also a Minnesota senator.”
“She’s a senator?” the officer is heard asking Carol Mitchell.
“Yes, well was,” Mitchell responds to the officer before he asks whether she currently serves in office.
“Well, she is. I meant after this…” Mitchell said, referring to the arrest.
The footage shows Nicole Mitchell inside a police cruiser in handcuffs being questioned.
She told an officer that she was “just trying to get some of my dad’s things” and added “clearly, I’m not good at this.”
Police body camera footage played in court captured Sen. Nicole Mitchell's arrest at her stepmother's home, where she was heard saying, "obviously I'm not very good at this."
Mitchell faces charges of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools for allegedly breaking… pic.twitter.com/Jo6KqcE2Pq
— FOX 9 (@FOX9) July 15, 2025
The complaint states that Nicole Mitchell explained to police that her father had just died, and she wanted sentimental items her stepmother refused to give to her, according to local affiliate Fox Minneapolis.
Mitchell said those include her father’s ashes, pictures, clothes and other sentimental items. Police found Mitchell in the home’s basement dressed in all black.
Officers say they also found a flashlight covered with a black sock on Mitchell. Officers searched for a black backpack that was stuck in a window and found two laptops, a cellphone, a driver’s license, Senate identification and Tupperware products, according to the complaint.
In the footage, Mitchell is seen lying on her stomach inside the home and being placed in handcuffs.
“I was just trying to get some of my dad’s things because she wouldn’t talk to me anymore,” she said.
During her trial, prosecutors said Nicole Mitchell parked down the road from the home in a well-planned act.
Nicole Mitchell’s defense attorneys argued that Mitchell was a concerned stepdaughter trying to help a loved one.
During her testimony, Carol Mitchell said she felt “extremely violated” following the alleged burglary.
She also said she doesn’t believe her stepdaughter cared about her safety or well-being.
“Nicole never let me get close to her,” Carol Mitchell said.
You can watch the entire arrest here —
Nicole Mitchell has survived multiple expulsion attempts by her Republican Senate colleagues, but the body’s caucus did remove her from committee assignments and caucus meetings days after her initial arrest.
If convicted of first-degree burglary, Mitchell faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.